A/N: Thanks to the following reviewers –

Alatariel Maris Telcontar: Cool name! Thanks for the review and I am honoured that you think Nwalme makes a cool villain. She will be thrilled to know this! You guys make us guys go! Thakies again for adding me on your author alert list. Hope you enjoy all my stories!

Sorcha Cooper: Thanks for adding me in your favorites list. I am actually somebody's favorite! WOW!

Miriellar: I love your name!If you're reading this, Thanks! You have so much interest in my story that you want to know when it is updated! I can't believe this! I will surely die of happiness. I wish thee all well.

Davidsgurlonly: Wow! Another person has added my name in their author's alert list! I sort of went through your profile and I have to admit, I like the way you write and your idea about having fun with one's writing, without minding a particle of the flames one gets! COOL!

Slowness: Hi and here you go! Another chapter. My next story is titled Crystal Dreams. I don't know, Haldir reminds me of crystal! Thanks for the reviews too! Cheers!

Disclaimer: Oh come on now!

I know I have been inexcusably late with the update. But I started college last week and boy! Have I been loaded down or what! I promise you faster updates from now on. So, please pwetty pwease don't stop reviewing! Thankie!

- Anarya of Lorien

The Prophecy

Chapter 16 (The final war)

Legolas slowly stirred as he gained consciousness. He felt stray strands of some soft material blowing across his face. It took him a while to register it as Silme's hair. He was seated behind her on Amrûn who was flying above the orcs. Amrûn was weaving left and right in mid air as though avoiding the numerous arrows that flew in his direction.

"Silme?" he asked thickly.

"You're awake! Good, you can help me." She pushed his bow and knife towards him. Legolas caught them and looked around.

"Where is Arod?" Silme wiped her face clean from sweat as she said, "Somewhere safe. Believe me. Please, start shooting Legolas! We need all the help we can get."

Legolas nodded and turned himself around so that both Silme and himself were back to back. Silme who had not thought of him changing his position asked,

"Mani naa lle umien? Legolas! Answer me." (What are you doing? Legolas! Answer me.)

"Uuma dela, Silme. This way we shall not reveal our backs to anyone. Keep Amrûn steady."

(Uuma dela – don't worry)

"What ever you deem fit, melamin." She said as she shot two more arrows at orcs below. With Legolas sitting behind her, she definitely felt safer. But it was not enough to make her feel safe about success in the battle.

"Legolas, we can't go on like this! We are only five. It is an impossible feat."

"Is that so?" Silme turned her head sharply to see Isilya ride a grey steed, which was winged as well.

"Isilya?" Silme breathed. Isilya smiled as she patted her steed.

"In person. Lle anta amin tu?" (Do you need help?) She smirked as she notched an arrow onto her bow, aiming for an orc who was in turn aiming at her.

" You couldn't have posed a better question, mellon amin!" Silme laughed.

"We are a party of a hundred. We can take them out from the sky. You should go into the fort. Nwalme waits."

Legolas who had just emptied his quiver turned to Isilya who threw him another bundle of grey-feathered arrows.

"Doesn't the torment have the Nazgul or something of that sort? Evil minions for her works?"

"No. Thank the Valar for that! She is more than you will be able to handle. Now hurry. I shall bring Aragorn over. In a few minutes, the child shall be fit to fulfill the prophecy. Go! Don't worry. I shall bring him."

She then dived downwards and a little while later, as Silme was speeding towards the fort, Isilya resurfaced from the sea of orcs with a cut brow and Aragorn who was suffering minor scrapes. Silme then narrowed her eyes at the door of the fort, which was opening.

"Nwalme, I come for revenge." She swore.

"Me too." Silme turned to see Aragorn who was seated behind Isilya glare at the fort.

"They approach." Luinil smiled as she saw the sickle of the Valar shine brightly.

"How long?" she sighed as she moved a wisp of black hair from her face.

"My liege, your mount." The orc called onto an elleth dressed for battle. Nwalme mounted her steed and turned to look at her servant.

"Where is Karnil?" agitation seeped through her words as she placed her hands onto the black reins of her horse.

"I don't know, your liege." The orc replied. Nwalme was very angry. He could see that. It would be a folly to anger her now. And Karnil had always been unwilling in most of Nwalme's exploits.

"Shall I go and find her, my liege?" Nwalme shook her head in disagreement.

"We will be late for the battle. I did not expect the ellith of Edona to come. Station as many as you can towards the entrance. They shouldn't gain entry."

The orc nodded and stood back as Nwalme took to the sky.

"Alright! Explain." Silme placed her hands on her hips as she squared off Isilya. Isilya smiled as she placed a hand on Silme's shoulder.

"I did not know what prompted me to go to the queen but she already knew you were in trouble. Do not ask me how! Few know how her mind works." She laughed a little at this. Silme nodded her head as she turned to look at Aragorn get down from Isilya's steed.

"Luinil – who is she?" Aragorn looked down as he sighed and whispered,

"My daughter. The child of the prophecy."

"It will be complete. You need not worry, my lord." A voice sounded from behind. Aragorn turned to find an elleth standing there with her hand on her sword but something in her eyes told them that she was not their foe.

"My name is Karnil. I am a servant of Nwalme. But deep in my heart, I do not enjoy what she does. But it is my fate to be bound to her for life and for an elf, it is forever." Her deep green eyes lowered to the ground.

"Why do you say such things? Aren't you to fight for your mistress?"

Karnil turned to Silme who had spoken. "Yes. It is my fate to serve her. But I do not do this willingly. Luinil does not know any thing about the prophecy. Her heart is in torment. She does not know if to trust Nwalme or not. Nwalme has gone to battle. I hope Mithrandir keeps her busy while you take Luinil far from here."

"But the prophecy-"

"Do you want your daughter back or not?" Karnil asked annoyance slowly creeping in. Aragorn nodded.

"Hurry! You must be quick." She pushed Aragorn towards the fort. There was a dark door, which Karnil opened, and Aragorn found himself walking down dusty stairs.

As Karnil came to Silme, she pulled her aside.

"Remember that the sword of evil is not only to be wielded for that purpose. The light of the elven stars shall guide your path."

Silme stared at the elleth before her. "What do you mean?" Karnil clutched Silme's sword as she looked up towards the sky.

"I cannot say anymore. But remember, Evil begets evil." She then vanished in the opposite direction. Silme gazed at the retreating elleth who was now possibly going to war.

"Evil begets evil." She whispered as she turned towards the sky where the elven stars shone. She shook her head as she descended down the steps to join the others.

"You are late, Karnil." Nwalme growled as the elleth landed down beside her mistress. Karnil bowed her head.

"I am sorry, my liege." She then turned to look at the castle. Nwalme frowned at the elleth beside her.

"The old sage seems to be creating a lot of problems and aid from Edona – I didn't think they would come. It is time we fought, Karnil."

"Why don't you let Luinil fight? She is very powerful. You know that as much as the ones who have come to claim her. The truth shall be revealed soon, Nwalme."

Nwalme snorted as she clicked her steed's reins and rode towards Gandalf. Karnil watched her mistress ride and sighed as she followed her mistress. As she caught up with Nwalme, the elleth turned to look at her. Her golden brown orbs shone in the twilight.

"Your faith and loyalty lies not here Karnil." She looked up abruptly to see Nwalme kick her horse and take it to the sky to fight the ellith from Edona.

She almost stopped stunned when a flash behind her brought her back to reality, back to the war in the middle of which she found herself. Karnil turned to look at Nwalme who was killing many an ellith in the sky.

"Stop not, my minions! Not until my enemies are conquered!" her voice thundered. She then turned to look at Karnil.

"Will you come with me or do I have to wait for another lifetime?" she roared. Karnil closed her eyes as she kicked her steed to join Nwalme. The only two blessed steeds that worked for Nwalme now soared in the night air.

Isilya lighted a torch from the bracketed wall. The path ahead was dark and a dreary feeling overcame them all. Aragorn removed the Anduril from its sheath and walked behind Isilya who lighted the way.

"It would be better if all of us had torches. There must be more on the walls," Silme groped at the walls and her fingers curled around one more cylindrical handle.

"I think I found one. It looks like a torch. Isilya I will need your torch to light mine." She pulled the torch out of its bracket only to find the ground below her rumble. She turned around and saw that every body had felt the same movement.

She then looked at the torch she had attempted to remove. It was a silver wrought one with Tengwar scripts running along its length. She ran her hand over the inscription.

"For those who will the prophecy true…" she turned to the others. "What does that mean?" Aragorn moved closer to the two ellith and placed his hand over the torch. He closed his eyes in contemplation and turned to Silme.

"We all wish the prophecy true. It means we are close to the child. Let me try, Silme."

She moved backwards and nodded her head. Aragorn took a deep breath and placed his left hand over the torch and mustering all his strength, pulled the torch down. To their far right, light crept in through the newly formed doorway.

"The way to the child!" Isilya exclaimed and ushered the others on towards the door. As Silme passed her by, she caught her arm and pulled her back.

"Wh - what is it Isilya?" Silme asked astonished.

"The war outside is not yet over. The faster we bring the child, the faster will be Nwalme's downfall. And the fate of the child once the prophecy is complete, is it known to the king?" Silme lowered her face.

"I had not the heart to tell him."

Isilya sighed as she nodded her head. "But it shall be revealed to him."

Silme nodded as she turned to go towards the doorway, followed by Isilya.

A light greeted her eyes as she walked out of the passageway into what seemed like an armory room in the fort. Legolas was examining a quiver when Silme approached Aragorn who was searching the room for a way out.

"Aragorn," he turned to look at her. He smiled and said,

"There must be a way out, will you help me find it?" Silme turned to look at Legolas who now joined his friends and was running his fingers over the stones.

"Aragorn-"

"Not now Silme." Isilya warned her. Silme nodded slowly and turned to look at the various weapons in the room.

"Nwalme has very good weapons in her disposal. No wonder her warriors win their wars! Isilya look at this! A crossbow."

Isilya turned to look at Silme holding a crossbow, which from her expression seemed very heavy. She placed her hands onto the trigger when Isilya warned her.

"Watch where you point that thing, Silme." But it was too late. Silme had already fired an arrow, which hit a corner in the room.

"Don't blame me Isilya, that thing was very heavy. Must be the ones used by orcs."

"Once our kin." Isilya said in a very low voice. Silme lowered the crossbow to the floor and dropped it. A rumble shook the room all of a sudden. The entire group remained alert with their weapons. Legolas narrowed his eyes at the wall ahead of them when all of a sudden he lowered his bow. Silme and the rest of them turned to look at him. He then turned to Silme,

"Thank you, melamin. You just opened the door." Silme looked at him incredulously. Then all of a sudden, the scenery beyond the wall materialized before them. True to his word, it looked like the corner of the room, which was beyond the reach any one, seemed to contain the key.

Aragorn turned to look at Silme with a grateful glance before he ran out through the door. Silme turned and cast a worried look towards Isilya and ran after the king.

Tattadaa! We are in the fort! Last chapter on its way. Please read and review and don't forget to read my next story, Crystal Dreams, which will be uploaded by the next week.

- Anarya of Lorien